Cameras in eight more locations

JOY SENGUPTA

CCTV cameras would be installed in eight more sites in the city for round-the-clock monitoring of the traffic and the law and order situation.

Claiming that the CCTV cameras were installed at four locations last year had started functioning from January, Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Amrit Raj told The Telegraph that eight sensitive zones had been identified for close vigil. The exact location of the cameras would be decided next week.

“Eight areas have been selected and the installation process would start within a fortnight. We are hopeful that the new cameras would be functional by April first week,” he said.

CCTV cameras are already functional at the Patna Junction roundabout, Dakbungalow roundabout, Exhibition Road roundabout and the Income Tax roundabout.

The images taken by the CCTV cameras are beamed on a screen in the control room of Patna police headquarters.

Policemen monitor them and take necessary steps. Sources in the police said few more monitors would be installed in the control room for the new cameras. The 5.575-km-long Mahatma Gandhi Setu is one of the areas identified for the installation of CCTV cameras in the second phase.

“The camera along the Patna side of the Gandhi Setu would serve a lot of purposes. First, it would help the policemanage the traffic on the bridge, where traffic jam has become a regular feature. Though are cops posted on the bridge, there is no ban on overtaking,” another police officer told The Telegraph.

He added: “Heavy vehicles often create a commotion. The CCTV camera would help the cops monitoring its images to identify the errant vehicles and ask the officers on the spot to take action against the drivers. It would also help reduce the number of suicides. People have earlier jumped off the bridge. The cameras are expected to provide some relief.”

CCTV cameras would be installed at the Mithapur bus stand also.

In May 2011, the police announced that 12 cameras would be set up at the bus stand after the murder of a transporter.

The officer added: “Announcements on CCTV cameras were made earlier, but we do not have to get into those things. This is a fresh plan and is working. Law and order problems are reported from the bus stand frequently. The CCTV cameras would help us address them.”